I thought would have had a thread on this show, but a search didn't turn up anything.

Is COMMUNITY the best comedy on network TV? Well, it was during its first season, which started quiet but quickly built into true-blue hilarity, climaxing with the awesomeness that was the paintball episode, a relentless send-up of action movie cliches.

I'm not sure about this second season. It's been funny, but it's been struggling. Gone is the connective character arcs/relationships--they tossed out the romantic tension within the first episode--and instead, we've had one send-up of genres after the other. Some of them have been quite witty (I dug their Halloween zombie episode). Some of them have been bizarre (the Jesus movie episode was odd, though they get points for their mockery of the wailing voices on the soundtrack). But this Thursday night's episode, I think I saw a glimmer of the first season again. I'm hoping it keeps up.

I love Community-- and yes, it probably is the best comedy on network TV, at least that I've seen, given that Parks and Rec is M.I.A. right now and 30 Rock has slipped just a bit the last two seasons.

And I'm not sure that I agree that it's been stumbling this season. The only episode I haven't been big on was the Abed one you mention, Ryan, simply because its tone was so different from the rest of the series. But I have to give them props for hanging an entire episode on what was essentially an extended Charlie Kaufman reference.

The great thing about the show is how it balances its impulses toward the broader, reference-heavy shows (like the paintball and zombie episodes) with more intimate, character-driven humor. And thus far, I don't think that balance has been shaken too much. Yes, they did a few reference-heavy shows in a row, though even with those, I feel like the Apollo 13/KFC episode still brought some good character-based moments. Meanwhile, the first two episodes of the season were pretty light on the references, as was this past week's. So I wouldn't say that they've veered too far in one direction. I think the show's doing just fine.

The only episode I haven't been big on was the Abed one you mention, Ryan, simply because its tone was so different from the rest of the series.

Yeah, it was a very, very odd episode. Not necessarily bad, but strange.

I'd say one of the more obviously problematic things about COMMUNITY right now is the arc they've given Chang. He was very amusing the first season, but I've found him borderline annoying this season.

I've appreciated that they're using him in fairly small doses, and that they've naturally worked him into the episodes instead of forcing him into the study group. The only issue I have with him is the subplot of him hooking up with Shirley-- which will, I'm sure, reap some big laughs, but seemed to come out of the blue.

So, the Christmas show was masterful: Not only one of the best Christmas episodes, of any show, that I have seen, but also splendidly true to the spirit of the show. The stop-motion thing wasn't just a witty pop culture reference, but it serviced the characters and the story. And best of all: The LOST joke was priceless.

What I really like is that they seem to have thought of all sorts of little aspects about the characters that most shows gloss over. I understand why shows avoid something like establishing a religious background for a characters... but seeing how something like Troy's being a Jehovah's Witness impacts the group dynamic (the group pretending to ignore Troy's birthday by having a party that just happens to fall on the day he was born-since JW do not celebrate holidays/birthdays was just a sweet moment).

I agree that last night was terrific. It was fun and stayed in tone with the show. I love that Community takes risks like this, rather than simply coasting on critical response.

I wish I could remember to watch or DVR this show. I caught an episode about two weeks ago, where the cast was putting on a "Don't Do Drugs" play for young adults. As a former actor/technician in a company that performed for children, this was one of the funniest things I'd seen on TV in a long time.

I wish I could remember to watch or DVR this show. I caught an episode about two weeks ago, where the cast was putting on a "Don't Do Drugs" play for young adults. As a former actor/technician in a company that performed for children, this was one of the funniest things I'd seen on TV in a long time.

I wish I could remember to watch or DVR this show. I caught an episode about two weeks ago, where the cast was putting on a "Don't Do Drugs" play for young adults. As a former actor/technician in a company that performed for children, this was one of the funniest things I'd seen on TV in a long time.

You could Hulu it. That's what I do.

Dude, I can't even remember to click one button on my DVR... now you expect me to hunt it down on Hulu? Do you know how much clicking that involves?

I wish I could remember to watch or DVR this show. I caught an episode about two weeks ago, where the cast was putting on a "Don't Do Drugs" play for young adults. As a former actor/technician in a company that performed for children, this was one of the funniest things I'd seen on TV in a long time.

You could Hulu it. That's what I do.

Dude, I can't even remember to click one button on my DVR... now you expect me to hunt it down on Hulu? Do you know how much clicking that involves?

I wish I could remember to watch or DVR this show. I caught an episode about two weeks ago, where the cast was putting on a "Don't Do Drugs" play for young adults. As a former actor/technician in a company that performed for children, this was one of the funniest things I'd seen on TV in a long time.

You could Hulu it. That's what I do.

Dude, I can't even remember to click one button on my DVR... now you expect me to hunt it down on Hulu? Do you know how much clicking that involves?